Citation

Pelletier L, Castedo M, Druet P. Rev. Prat. 1994; 44(1): 86-92.

Vernacular Title

Auto-immunite et toxiques.

Affiliation

INSERM U28, hôpital Broussais, Paris.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1994, J B Bailliere et Fils)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

8178065

Abstract

In certain subjects medicinal drugs or toxic agents may induce organ-specific or systemic diseases. The mechanisms of this induction vary according to the type of toxic agent involved. The modification of autoantigens by a toxic agent might be the cause of autoimmune disorders. Thus, certain drugs metabolized by enzymes are known to bind on these enzymes in a covalent manner, thereby making the enzyme immunogenic. The immune reaction thus induced could be responsible for hepatitis. If the modified autoantigen is a molecule, such as the class II molecules of the major histocompatibility complex, which plays an important role in communication between the immune system cells, the autoimmune reaction could result in polyclonal lymphocyte B activation and in a lupus-like autoimmune disease. It is also possible that a drug interferes with one of the element which control the advent of autoreactive T cells and in this way becomes responsible for autoimmune systemic manifestations.

Language: fr